Posted on 08/15/2013
by
Healthy Living Blog

A Lighter Way -- Part of our 6-month, online weight loss program with Dr. Tak Poon. Follow along by subscribing to this blog (see prompts above) to be notified of each new post. Then use these weight loss tips at home.

In order to ensure success in any project, it’s best to prepare as much as possible before beginning. The thousand successful participants in our CardioMetabolic Program took special care to do just this, so I wanted to share with you some of the initial body-mind-spirit steps they took that led to successful and lasting weight loss.

1. Make a personal commitment

Do try out each of the next 10 steps we'll be sharing over in the coming 6 months. The end result: feeling better, healthier, lighter and happier, more energetic and less stressed.2. Tell those close to you that you’re doing this and, if appropriate, ask them to help you (or put up with you, or at least not to de-rail you). Assure them you won’t be doing anything extreme or dangerous to your health. Welcome any of them to join you.

3. Write down all the food and drinks you are consuming this week. Don’t try to change anything; just record what is happening. You can download this simple food log to keep on your refrigerator or try using an electronic device, such as smart-phone, tablet, or computer to download a free app, such as FitBit, MyFitnessPal, or SparkPeople. All of these options are easy to use and very helpful. In fact, some people can achieve up to half the weight loss by just doing this one thing. [5]

4. Make the choice not to buy any more unhealthy foods. You know what they are! You can either finish whatever is still there or get rid of them before your actual start date in two weeks.

5. Trace your daily footprints at home and at work and remove all obstacles, such as snack food at your work desk or on the TV coffee table. If you cannot remove them, plot another route to bypass them.

6. Assign only one dedicated place in the house or at work to eat, such as the kitchen or lunch room. That alone will help you cut down on snacking.

7. Make a list of 3-5 things that most often trigger you to over-eat, and the 3-5 biggest barriers to your becoming physically active. Never mind how to overcome them; that’ll come later.

8. Visualize how much better your life will be when you are lighter, fitter and more carefree. Don’t worry about how to get or stay there, for now. Just conjure up specific images of the new you enjoying all that life has to offer. Do that every night just before you fall asleep. [6]

9. It doesn’t matter how you used to be or how many times you may have failed. Understand that your future is yet to come. Nobody can predict it, but you’re the only one who can do something to change it.

10. Use the past. Accept the present. Shape the future.

Your body today is a result of your thoughts in the past. Your thoughts today will become your body in the future. The same goes for your life. (Many people have expressed and experienced this truth.)

“If you always do what you always did, you’ll always get what you always got." Anonymous

or

As Apple might say, “Think different."

So in the next 6 months, you’ll be doing something different. STEP 1 of 10 starts in 2 weeks. Suit up! What have you got to lose? And in the process you may gain your life back.

Are you going to contact those interested? I thought this Program would have started by now??

90angel wrote on 08/03/2013

Dr. Poon, I'm overweight with a small frame body, and would love to join your program. I want to be healthy and to get rid of the guilt and depression. Grannyboo wrote on 8/3/2013

joannefletter wrote on 07/27/2013

I am inspired by your program and would like to give it a try. I'm a see-saw dieter and not that much overweight but love to eat! We will be not able to participate in the program until September 7th as we will be out of the country. May I still join?

tmmlizjosh wrote on 07/27/2013

Comment for Dr. Poon; WOW - Who would have thought??? Dr. Poon, I am Theresa Mora daughter of Maria Mora. My mom was your patient from approximately 1988 to 1991 when she passed at the age of 73. She loved you, yes she had love and admiration for you, she was so excited when you announced your were about to be married!! She lived in S.F. She had an enlarged heart which you treated at the then Peninsula Hospital in Burlingame. I am going to enter your weight loss program starting in 2 weeks. I am so overweight and have OA in my knee and am experiencing difficulty in everyday activities. Thank you for this program and for continuing to grow in your field for the betterment of all!